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Monday, October 14, 2013

Archos is well known in the Philippines as one of the early sellers of low cost tablets. The French company is now wading into the Android smartphone arena. I saw two of their products at a small shop in ATC, and the units are well built. The more interesting of the two is the Archos 53 Platinum.

The Archos 53 Platinum is a 5.3-inch phablet which comes in a reasonably thin 9.2 mm case. Inside is a 2800 mAh battery, which is bigger than the 2000 mAh unit normally found on low cost 5.3-inch phablets. Well this is the good news. The rest of the package is less than impressive.

The Archos 53 Platinum has a suggested retail price of Php11,995. It is being offered for sale at a Php500 discount, bringing the price down to Php11,495. For that money, Archos gives you a 5.3-inch qHD (540 x 960) display. There are a fair number of HD (720 x 1280) handsets at this price range. Inside you will find a Qualcomm M8225Q chipset with a 1.2 GHz quad core ARM Cortex A-5 processor and Adreno 203 graphics. While the Adreno 203 graphics can run a qHD display, Qualcomm itself recommends that the Adreno 203 be used in handsets with a FWVGA (480 x 854) display. These days you see the Qualcomm M8225Q on handsets selling at below 5K. The Qualcomm M8225Q also means that you get HSPA connectivity and not HSPA+ speeds you will see from MediaTek powered competitors. Like other Qualcomm M8225Q, it runs on Android 4.1, JellyBean.

The Archos 53 Platinum also offers 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB or internal storage expandable via a MicroSD card, a 8 MP autofocus primary camera with a BSI sensor and a 2 MP front camera. All-in-all, it is a decent enough package to give a good Android experience. Still, it does seem overpriced for what it offers.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

We already wrote about Smart's Gadget Plus plans last month. These plans would allow you to get an Alcatel Tab 7 HD tablet or Samsung Galaxy Note 8, bundled with a Smart WiFi router and 50 hours of internet. Smart has now expanded the plan to include laptops.

You have the choice of a 14-inch Samsung ATIV Book 2 or 11.6-inch Acer Aspire V5 122P touchscreen laptop. The tablet plan for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has also been revised with a cash out of Php2,000 being added.

Gadget Plan 999

- Php999 a month for 50 hours of internet plus your selected device.

- Hours used in excess of 50 will be charged at Php5 per 15 minutes (Php20/hour).

- Should you go past 80 hours you will be charged a total fee of Php1,599 for the month and you will be moved to an unlimited data connection for that month.

Cash out:

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 with a Pocket WiFi router - Php2,000

Samsung ATIV Book 2 with a USB dongle - Php1,500

Acer Aspire V5 122P with a USB dongle - Php2,500

Click on the image for a large size

Gadget Plan 699

- Php699 a month for 50 hours of internet plus an Alcatel T7 HD and a Pocket WiFi router

- Hours used in excess of 50 will be charged at Php5 per 15 minutes (Php20/hour).

- Should you go past 80 hours you will be charged a total fee of Php1,299 for the month and you will be moved to an unlimited data connection for that month.

I have also limited it to not more than 5 phones per category, occasionally throwing in a Wildcard (a niche market phone). The current classification really looks to be insufficient, especially considering the heaviest competition these days is in the lower price ranges.

This is not the list, just a sampling of contenders. This list has six categories. Maybe five categories (6/12/18/24/24), with three recommendations each for a total of 15 phones might be better? Adding a wildcard per category where appropriate for a maximum of 20 phones. What do you think?

When the Android powered 5.2-inch LG G2 came out last month, it changed our perception of what an Android flagship phone should be. The LG G2 up'ed the ante in terms specifications and lowered the barrier in terms of price. Selling for just Php27,490 and available at zero interested deferred payment plans, the LG G2 undercut the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One in terms of price, by a good 10%.

At the same time, the LG G2 comes with the new Qualcomm S800 which is faster than the Qualcomm S600 on its Samsung and HTC contenders. The Qualcomm S800 also supports always-on voice monitoring, so it is not only faster but more forward looking. The 13 MP shooter on the LG G2 also has optical image stabilization. With this LG joins HTC and Nokia in this elite club.

Now LG has another coup. It is available on contract with Globe, free at Plan 1799 with a 24 month lock-in, again undercutting cost of ownership as against its rivals.

With the enough hardware to pound the Samsung Galaxy S4 in the ground, and unbeatable price and postpaid options, it looks like Samsung is facing the greatest threat to its Android domination.

Friday, October 11, 2013

It looks like Cherry Mobile plans to rain on the MyPhone Rain parade. A few days ago, MyPhone launched a low cost, Php2,988, Android Jelly Bean, smartphone. Yesterday, Cherry Mobile unveiled a direct competitor to the Rain, the Cherry Mobile Life, priced at Php2,999.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

4-inch WVGA (480 x 800) display

Dual sim support

4 GB internal storage expandable via a MicroSD card slot

512 MB RAM

1 GHz dual core MediaTek MT6572M processor

Mali-400 graphics processor

5 MP autofocus primary camera with LED flash

0.3 MP front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

1500 mAh battery

The specifications of the two phones are almost identical. The Cherry Mobile Life has a larger, sharper display. It also offers a battery which is rated 200 mAh higher. In terms of cameras, the Cherry Mobile Life has a 5 MP primary camera against the 3.2 MP unit on the MyPhone Rain. The camera on the Cherry Mobile Life is also an autofocus unit and has a LED flash. The MyPhone Rain has a fixed focus camera and has no flash. The My Phone Rain does have a 1.3 MP front camera, which has a higher resolution than the Cherry Mobile Life's VGA unit, but all in all, the Cherry Mobile Life looks like the much better choice among the two. That is being polite. Really, there is no contest.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Apparently, this phone has been in the market a month now. It slipped through my radar. The SKK Neo is the cheapest Android Jelly Bean phone, priced at Php1,999. For that price it actually has a decent set of specifications, but there is one that worries me a bit.

The SKK Neo is listed to have just 256 MB of RAM, and 256 MB of internal storage. I have never used Android 4.2 on a phone with just 256 MB or RAM or tried to flash it on a phone with just 256 MB of internal storage. If any of you have this phone, I would love to get some feedback.

Gionee Mobile is an India based company, whose products are now being offered in the Philippines. The latest offering of this India based company is pretty impressive: the Goinee ELIFE E6. The ELIFE E6, is not cheap. One of the online resellers I use for price comparisons has it listed at Php16,150. That is a fair bit of cash for a phone from a lesser known company.

Update: Apparently the SRP of this phone is Php18,990.

But what does the ELIFE E6 offer? The ELIFE E6 is a 5-inch Android smartphone with a Full HD (1080 x 1920) display. Like the other locally and India branded phones, it sports a MediaTek chipset, a MediaTek MT689T. This comes with a 1.5 GHz quad core ARM Cortex A7 processor and PowerVR SGX544 graphics chip. Although, you will find a few locally branded phones sold for lower prices like the Cherry Mobile S & Z.

The ELIFE E6 is a cut above its locally branded competition with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. It does not appear to have a MicroSD card slot.

Another thing going for the ELIFE E6 is that it comes in a slim and compact case:

Gionee ELIFE E6 - 142.5 x 69.4 x 6.2 mm

Samsung Galaxy S4 - 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm

Sony Xperia Z - 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z - 142.7 x 71.9 x 7.8 mm

The other specifications are what you would expect, with a 13 MP primary camera, 5 MP front camera and HSPA+ connectivity. Notably, this phone only supports one SIM slot.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

5-inch Full HD (1080 x 1920) display

32 GB internal storage, not expandable

2 GB RAM

1.5 GHz quad core MediaTek MT6589 processor

PowerVR SGX544 graphics

13 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash

5 MP front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

2000 mAh battery (not user replaceable)

The biggest drawbacks of the package are the PowerVR SGX544 graphics and 2000 mAh battery. PowerVR SGX544 is fast, and can run the Full HD display well. But if you are looking for a handset for 3D gaming, you might want to look for a model with a MT6589 or MT6589T chipset and 720p display instead.

The 2000 mAh battery is on the small side for a 5-inch phone with a 1080p display. The fact that it is not user replaceable does not help. A thicker case with a larger 2300~2800 mAh battery would have been preferable.

So there you have it. As far as I know it is the cheapest locally available Android with a Full HD display and 2 GB of RAM. On the other hand, at this price you have the LTE enabled Sony Xperia SP, which offers a more well rounded package, and the Huawei 6.1-inch phablet, the Ascend Mate.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

It is actually a bit strange comparing these two devices, since the two will appeal to two different types of users. On the other hand, being in the market for a phablet, I started to gravitate between these two.

The appeal of the Cherry Mobile Blaze 2.0 is pretty easy to understand. This phone has a large 5.7-inch HD (720 x 1280) display and is the cheapest phone with a suggested retail price of Php9,490. The CloudFone Thrill has a smaller lower resolution 5.3-inch qHD display (540 x 960), but the draw behind this phone is the 4500 mAh battery. The CloudFone Thrill 530qx is priced at Php9,999.

The 4500 mAh battery of the CloudFone Thrill 530qx will provide you twice as much battery life as the 2500 mAh battery of the Cherry Mobile Blaze 2.0. In addition to having a bigger battery, the smaller display of the Thrill will mean it will use less juice when the screen is on. The qHD display is also a lot less power hungry than the HD display. Initial reviews on the battery life of the CloudFone Thrill 530qx are very promising. Check out this review by Mark Marcelo.

The CloudFone Thrill 530qx has a MediaTek MT6589M chipset as compared to the MediaTek MT6589 on the Cherry Mobile Blaze 2.0. The difference between the two is the clock speed of the PowerVR graphics card:

MediaTek MT6589M - PowerVR SGX544 @ 158 MHz

MediaTek MT6589 - PowerVR SGX544 @ 286 MHz

The CloudFone Thrill 530qx has 55% of the graphics processing of the Cherry Mobile Blaze 2.0, not accounting for diminishing returns at higher clock speeds.

But the slower graphics card has no effect on the performance of the CloudFone Thrill 530qx.

CloudFone Thrill 530qx - qHD display has 518,400 pixels

Cherry Mobile Blaze 2.0 - HD display has 921,600 pixels

The CloudFone Thrill 530qx has 56% of the pixels of the Cherry Mobile Blaze 2.0. The result is, the performance of both phones should be about equal.

The main drawback to the MediaTek MT6589M processor is not the performance, but the camera. It only supports 720p video capture and cameras up to 8 MP in size. This means that the 12 MP camera on the CloudFone Thrill 530qx is at most an 8 MP camera. When you take a picture, the phone captures an 8 MP still, and then processes to 12 MP by stretching out the pixels. I am not fond of this software trickery which actually produces poorer quality shots than if they just kept the stills at 8 MP.

So ultimately, you have a choice of the larger sharper display or longer battery life. If you want Full HD video capture, the Cherry Mobile Blaze 2.0 is the way to go.

Me, I am undecided. It will be a second device and my main handset has a good camera and 1080p video, so it is really matter of size and display sharpness versus battery life for me.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

The low cost, Php3,999 Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt has been an easy tablet to recommend. When someone asks for a 7-inch Android tablet recommendation, I recommend the Fusion Bolt or the Nexus 7. The price gap between the two is large, but what comes in between these two is not all that interesting, unless someone wants a 3G tablet.

Asus Memo Pad HD 7

The Asus Memo Pad HD 7 threatens to change all that. The Asus Memo Pad HD 7 and Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt have similar specifications. Both are WXGA (1280 x 800) Android tablets with quad core processors and 1 GB of RAM. Both are about the same size and weight. The Asus Memo Pad HD 7 comes in two variants, the cheaper one comes with 8 GB of internal storage for Php6,995. I have not seen this one on the store shelves though. What I have seen is the 16 GB version which cost all of 2K more. Since there is a MicroSD card slot, I would recommend getting the 8 GB version instead.

Now Php6,995 is a lot higher than the Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt's price of Php3,999. Is the Asus Memo Pad HD 7 worth it?

While Asus is a much more respected brand, the Asus Memo Pad HD 7 is not a premium product. You do not get Gorilla or Dragon glass. The glossy plastic back looks like it could pick up scratches pretty easily. In terms of performance, reviews of the Asus Memo Pad HD 7 and Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt indicate that they would have similar levels of performance.

So what does your extra 3K get you? The Asus Memo Pad HD 7 has GPS and Bluetooth. On the other hand, you lose the mini-HDMI port and it does not appear to support USB on-the-go. The Asus Memo Pad HD 7 promises 10 hours of battery life, as against the 6 of the Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt. The 6 hours of the Fusion Bolt is confirmed by several users. No feedback yet on the battery life of the Asus Memo Pad HD 7.

The Asus Memo Pad HD 7 is another nice low cost Android tablet to consider. It is pretty good for the price as compared to other offerings. But it misses the mark in terms of being a Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt killer.

Monday, October 7, 2013

The MyPhone Rain 3G is the cheapest Android Jelly Bean phone I have seen. As far as I know the MyPhone Rain 3G, priced at Php2,988, is the first non-Gingerbread phone priced at below Php3,990 on release. The MyPhone Rain 3G specifications are modest, but good enough for the asking price.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

3.5-inch HVGA (320 x 480) display

Dual sim support

4 GB internal storage expandable via a MicroSD card slot

512 MB RAM

1 GHz dual core MediaTek MT6572M processor

Mali-400 graphics processor

3.2 MP fixed focus primary camera

1.3 MP front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

1300 mAh battery

This phone will make it to my recommended list next month, bar any reports of catastrophic issues. It is really nice to see this phone, as it lowers the bar for a decent entry level phone by Php1,000.

The Cherry Mobile Apollo could be the best phone ever released by the company. I say this because I think this low cost offering will stay relevant for a long time. The biggest drawback with buying a low cost device is that it tends to feel old fast, as newer low cost models are offered. When friends ask me if a low cost device is worth it, basically I look at it this way: You can buy one expensive device and keep it for two years, or a lower cost phone and replace it yearly. After one year, you get a new phone, new warranty and a new battery and can still spend less than investing in one high end model. If you bought a Cherry Mobile Flare or Titan last year, you are probably itching for an upgrade right about now.

The Cherry Mobile Apollo is changing my perception on this. It is a low cost device that you probably will keep for two years.

The first thing going for the Apollo is the display. What is the perfect sized display is subjective. But if you, like me, are the type who likes to be able to use a phone with one hand, the Apollo is a good size. At 4.5 inches, a 720p display is fine. That is a sharp 326 pixel per inch display. There really is little point in having a 1080p display on a phone with a 4.5-inch display. So the displays of future offerings may improve over time with better viewing angles or Gorilla Glass. When this happens the Apollo will not feel old, since it has the most important characteristic in this regard. In terms of sharpness of the display, this is probably as good as it gets on 4.5-inches.

As for RAM, the Apollo has 1GB of RAM. I am guessing, this will be standard for entry level phones for the next two years. By the time you see plenty of low cost Androids with 2GB of RAM, your Apollo will probably be on its second birthday.

The MediaTek MT6589 chipset which powers the Apollo will probably be found even on the cheapest phones within six months. Still it should be powerful enough to keep you happy through two years of ownership. As processing power increases it becomes less and less relevant. Only hard core gamers will find that the Apollo will be wanting in power during the next two years.

And that is what makes the Apollo the best phone Cherry Mobile ever released. At Php6,999 it is a low cost phone, with just enough hardware to make it viable for two years of ownership.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

4.5-inch HD (720 x 1280) IPS display

Dual sim support

4 GB internal storage expandable via a MicroSD card slot

1 GB RAM

1.2 GHz quad core MediaTek MT6589 processor

PowerVR SGX544 graphics processor

12 MP autofocus primary camera with LED flash

5 MP front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

1800 mAh battery* (user replaceable)

*While specifications posted say the battery is a 1800 mAh unit, early buyers report that the battery supplied was a 2000 mAh unit.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Nokia just launched in the Philippines its Nokia Lumia 1020. Essentially, the Lumia 1020 is a bigger bulkier Lumia 925 with a big 41 MP camera and double the storage. You will need a lot of storage to save to 38 MP stills. At Php35,650 this is one expensive phone. Basically it will compete with the Samsung Note 4 and the Apple iPhone 5S 32 GB.

The problem with the Lumia is it really has the specifications of a late 2012 Windows Phone, launched in later 2013. All it really has going for it to justify the high price, is its camera.

Using GSM Photo Arena Compare Tool I compared sample shots of a Lumia 1020, Lumia 925 and Samsung Galaxy S4. For comparison, the stills are scaled down to 8MP.

I also compared it with the upcoming Sony Z1 and with the Galaxy S4 scaled down to 12MP.

I also compared it to an Apple iPhone 5S and LG G2 scaled down to 8MP.

I am just not seeing it. I mean, the Nokia Lumia 1020 has a nice camera, but it does not seem better than an 8MP shooter on the iPhone 5S, or the 13 MP camera's on the Galaxy S4 or LG G2.

The cheapest phone recommended on the list was the Cherry Mobile Flare 2X. It replaces the Cherry Mobile Flare on this list. The Flare 2X has substantial hardware upgrades over the Flare, but also cost Php500 more, at Php4,499. This brings its price pretty close to the Nitro 450QD, which can be found selling for as low as Php4,999.

Key areas where the Nitro 450QD wins:

Display: Most people would probably prefer the 4.5-inch qHD (540 x 960) display of the Nitro 450QD over the 4-inch WVGA (480 x 800) display of the Flare 2X. Some would prefer the Flare 2X for being a more compact device. I would give this category to the Nitro 450QD.

Graphics Performance. The Nitro 450QD also wins in terms of raw power. The specifications say that it comes with a MediaTek MTK6589 chipset. However, the Arc Mobile Nitro 450QD only captures 720p video. So I suspect what is inside is actually the MediaTek MTK6589M chipset. The "M" version comes with the MTK6589 a PowerVR SGX544 graphics processor clocked at a lower speed than the regular and "T" versions.

Still, even with the slower clocked PowerVR SGX544 this should still be faster than the Adreno 203 unit on the Flare 2X. It should be noted though that the Adreno 203 on the Flare 2X is an upgraded version of the one on the original Flare. This allows the Flare 2X to also capture 720p video.

Data speeds. The MediaTek MTK6589 chipset comes with a faster HSPA+ radio, which is three times faster than the HSPA radio on the Flare 2X. This is only true though in areas where HSPA+ towers are present. Local networks now contain a mix of 3G, HSPA, HSPA+ and LTE towers.

Where the Flare 2X wins:

Price. The Flare 2X. I have found the Nitro 450QD selling for as low as Php4,999, so I pegged it at just Php500 over the Flare 2X, The suggested retail price of the Nitro 450QD is Php5,499 so depending on where you buy it, it might cost as much as Php1,000 more than the Flare 2X.

RAM. The Flare 2X comes with 1 GB of RAM, which is double the amount of RAM you have on the Nitro 450QD.

I am not comparing cameras, since I do not have a sample of either one.

It comes down to more RAM versus a faster chipset.

Android is designed to use a fair amount of RAM. When a program is closed, it really is not "turned off". It is stored suspended in the RAM. If you launch an app, close it, launch a second app and go back the first one. You will notice launching the first app again is much faster the second time around. This also saves a bit of your battery juice since launching a program uses power. A program stored on the memory does not.

This also applies to the home screen, widgets and app drawer. They are also stored in your RAM. If you have been using an older Android device with 512MB or less of RAM you would undoubtably have noticed that sometimes when you go back to your home screen, some widgets have to refresh or the app drawer is a bit slow in launching after long sessions on other apps. Worse, sometimes the entire home screen has to redraw.

When RAM runs low, Android flushes out apps and eventually even components of your home screen. Some launchers, like Nova will allow you to lock your home screen to the RAM so it is never flushed out. This does limit the RAM you have available for other apps.

The difference in RAM is 2:1. In terms of available RAM, it really is more like 3:1. The amount of RAM used by Android depends on the ROM and setup, but a little over 300 MB is typical for a lighter near stock ROM. So in comparing how much available RAM each phone has, you should deduct 300 MB from the equation. This means it is more like 200 MB free for the Nitro versus 600 MB for the Flare 2X.

As a counterpoint, unless an app requires more RAM than you have free, the performance of a single app is not affected by RAM. If you play a game, it should run much faster on the Nitro 450QD. The MediaTek's faster quad core processor helps a bit, but really it is the PowerVR SGX544 graphics processor which is the star of the show. Notably, Apple uses PowerVR5 and 6 series graphics processors on its iPhone's and iPad's. The PowerVR graphic processors consistently outperform Adreno, Mali and Tegra graphics processors of the same generation.

Both the Flare 2X and Nitro 450QD are both good phones for the money. But if I had to recommend a phone to the average user, I would pick the one with better multitasking performance. It should give a much smoother performance over time. Android is a multitasking OS. It multitasks in the background without you realizing it. The Flare 2X is designed to allow Android to run the way it was designed. This is really nothing new to this Blog. If you look at my previous buyer's guides, as soon as smartphones with 1GB of RAM are available at a lower price point, I stop recommending those with 512 MB or 769MB of RAM.

That being said, the Nitro 450QD should be a better choice for the gamer on a budget. There is also a rumor that Android 4.4 KitKat will be designed to work better on devices with less RAM. We should find out within the month.

The arrival of the new BlackBerry Z10
phone earlier this year has caused a big splash in the smartphone
market, as the world weighs the latest BlackBerry effort against the
current competition from Apple and Android. Let’s take a look at
the Z10 and the new BlackBerry10 OS in particular to see what the latest upgrade has to offer:

BlackBerry 10 OS: Better Than Ever

The BlackBerry Z10 runs on the new
BlackBerry 10 OS, which represents a major departure from its
predecessor. For one thing, the new OS runs completely on gestures,
meaning there’s no “Home” button. Instead, the new OS features
something called “Active Frames,” which allows users to have up
to eight applications running at one time. A simple swipe of the
finger takes users from one application to another. You can also
“Peek” behind the running application before you switch frames.
It may take users a little effort to get accustomed to the new
technology, but once they do, they’ll likely find that it increases
efficiency and productivity.

The new BlackBerry 10 OS also features
a redesigned BlackBerry Hub. This is where you’ll receive all of
your notifications—whether they come via SMS, email, or one of your
social media accounts. If that seems overwhelming, you have the
option of filtering notifications so that you’re not receiving
social media updates during work and vice versa. The Hub is a great
tool for keeping track of all your notifications, and it’s only
available on the new BB10 OS.

The new OS incorporates the latest BBM
update, which comes with voice chat, video chat, and screen sharing.
These features push BBM to the forefront of messenger services,
especially since BlackBerry is promising an app for Android and iOS
users this year that will allow users across all platforms to finally
connect with one another.

Z10-Specific Features

It’s worth noting the BB10’s
flagship phone, the Z10, in this article, as some of the operating
system’s newest features can only be found on this device. The Z10
is BlackBerry’s first phone to operate on touchscreen technology.
While some BlackBerry fans may lament the loss of the physical
keyboard, the predictive text on the Z10 is actually rather fast and
accurate, as noted by a review posted on CNET.
If you absolutely cannot live without the physical keyboard, opt for
the Q10 or Q5 instead.

How It Stacks Up To the Competition

A review posted on The
Verge notes that the BlackBerry Z10—and in turn the new OS—does
everything that a “modern phone should do,” but we think it does
even more. Flow technology makes it easy to navigate between
applications, and BlackBerry Balance helps users to effectively
separate work from play. Whether you’re using your new Z10 for a
last-minute video conference or for some gaming on your lunch break,
the new BB10 OS won’t disappoint.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

For those with deep pockets, these are five offerings I think are worth having a look at. All these phones are fast and have LTE, like many others in the market. As increases in smartphone speed become less relevant to the users, I think focus should be more on features which specific users might find valuable. Better to spend a large wad of cash on something you find useful, rather than just being able to upload screenshots of higher benchmarks. Each of these phones offer something special.

All prices posted are for units covered by a manufacturer's warranty.

1. Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 (Php20,990) - Productivity

No matter what anyone says about some Androids getting too big, the reality is that many smartphone users find their smartphones too small for extended and productive use. That is why we have tablets. While a 6.3-inch phone may be a bit bulky to carry around, it is a lot more portable than carrying a small phone and a tablet.

The large screen also has other benefits. Miss your old physical QWERTY keyboard? For many users, a touch keyboard still results in slower typing. Thumb typing on a 6.3-inch is an entirely different experience. Give it a look.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)

6.3-inch HD (720 x 1280) display

16 GB internal storage, expandable via a Micro SD card

1.5 GB RAM

1.7 GHz dual core Qualcomm Krait processor

Adreno 305 graphics

8 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash

1.9 MP front camera

LTE/HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

3200 mAh battery (user replaceable)

2. Nokia Lumia 925 (Php21,500) - Video capture

Nokia has long been known to make good camera phones, and the Nokia Lumia 925 is a continuation of this legacy. The 8 MP primary camera has Carl Zeiss Optics and takes good stills. Taking good pictures is no big deal with a high end smartphone these days. The problem is video.

Those 1080p videos we shoot on our phones look great on a small 5-inch screen. Play them on a LCD TV, and you notice just how much your hands were shaking. The previous video is shaking all over the place. The Nokia Lumia 925 corrects this problem by providing optical image stabilization (OIS). The Nokia Lumia 920 is the cheapest phone on the market equipped with optical image stabilization.

OIS uses a gyroscope to detect the motion of the phone and the whole optical assembly moves in the opposite direction to cancel out the movement. That happens 500 times a second. This really does wonders for HD video capture and helps in low light photography.

Quick specifications:

Windows Phone 8

4.5-inch HD (768 x 1280) AMOLED display

16 GB internal storage, not expandable

1 GB RAM

1.5 GHz dual core Qualcomm Krait processor

Adreno 225 graphics

8 MP autofocus primary camera with OIS and a dual-LED Flash

1.3 MP front camera

LTE/HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

2000 mAh battery (not user replaceable)

3. Sony Xperia ZR C5503 LTE (Php22,990) - Adventure

The Sony Xperia ZR is a scaled down version of the top of the line Sony Z seriesL products. Instead of a 5-inch Full HD display, you have a 4.55-inch HD display. Internal storage has also been reduced and the front camera is only a VGA unit. Other than that, the other specifications are unchanged. Most important of this is the IP58 certification for water and dust resistance. This makes an excellent choice for the active user.

You will still want to put your Xperia ZR in a tough case, before your next white water rafting or mountain climbing adventure. This will enhance its water resistance and protect it from physical damage. This is where is smaller size provides another advantage. An Xperia ZR in a touch case is still handy enough.

Adding to the all weather credentials is a dedicated camera button which will also allow you to snap pics in wet conditions. Touchscreens do no work in the wet.

If I was in the market right now, this is the one I would buy.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)

4.55-inch HD (720 x 1280) display

8 GB internal storage, expandable via a MicroSD card

2 GB RAM

1.5 GHz quad core Qualcomm Krait processor

Adreno 320 graphics

13 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash

VGA front camera

LTE/HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

2300 mAh battery (user replaceable)

4. LG G2 (Php26,650) - Redefining the flagship Android

The first three phones on our list are at the relatively lower price points for higher end devices with older HD/720p displays and older processors. Where is the super phone? Replacing the Samsung Galaxy S4 on the list is LG G2. The LG G2 comes with Qualcomm's latest S800 chipset with its screaming 2.3 GHz Krait processor. The graphics chip has been improved too, with the newer Adreno 330. The combination gives you the fastest mobile processor and second fastest mobile graphics processor in the world.

But I am not replacing the Samsung Galaxy S4 just because the LG G2 is a bit faster. Really, we are talking milliseconds at this point. The LG G2 takes the crown because it incorporates more next generation technology. The LG G2's 13 MP camera is a fine shooter which integrates OIS for steady video capture and improved low light capability. The Qualcomm S800 chipset supports touchless control. While there are few, if any apps which take advantage of this today, it is nice to future proof. The LG G2 also comes with a 5.2-inch display, putting it into what used to be phablet territory but in a case which is smartphone sized. This was done by making the bezel on this phone really thin.

The Android 4.2.2 operating install is modified by LG. But it is nice and light, and not like Samsung TouchWiz which is really starting to feel like a collection of every single gimmicky feature someone can dream up.

It is not the prettiest looking phone I have seen, and the back buttons will take some getting use to, but the LG G2 is without a doubt the best smartphone in the market and it is surprisingly very reasonably priced.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has pretty much the same specifications as LG G2. It does come with more RAM, but the main attraction will really be the larger 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display and the pressure sensitive stylus. You also get an expandable memory and a user replaceable battery. You do lose optical image stabilization as compared to the LG G2.

This list includes what I think are the five best options, with an additional phone which might appeal to a certain niche market.

The prices posted are those covered by an official manufacturer's warranty.

1. MyPhone Iceberg (Php11,988) - Aiming for higher ground

MyPhone has started launching more upscale offerings in its new Agua line. Cherry Mobile has done the same with its Cosmos series. The consensus the community I hang with is that, the higher end locally branded phones are just too expensive.

The My Phone Agua Iceberg phablet is a good example of the issue. The specifications are rather similar to the cheaper Cherry Mobile Blaze 2.0 (Php8,990). So the question has to be asked, is it worth the 3K premium?

The point with buying a more premium locally branded devices is that it should have a more premium look and feel. The MyPhone Iceberg does this with an aluminum case. It also comes with 16 GB of internal storage, higher than the 4 GB you find on lower cost models. However, this is a plus and minus proposition. You get more built-in storage, but it does not have a MicroSD slot, so you cannot expand the internal storage. It does support USB on-the-go so you can plug it to USB flash drives, which might make up somewhat for the absence of a MicroSD card slot for some.

Still is it woth 3K more?

Luckily, the MyPhone Iceberg being available at 12-months zero interest (and 24-months with a RCBC or Allied Bank credit card) at establishments, like Automatic Centre. This makes the higher price easier to swallow.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

5.7-inch HD (720 x 1280) display

Dual SIM

16 GB internal storage, not expandable

1 GB RAM

1.2 GHz quad core MediaTek MT6589 processor

PowerVR SGX544 graphics

12 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash

5 MP front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

2600 mAh battery (not user replaceable)

2. Lenovo P780 (Php13,500) - A lot of steel and lithium ion

October 9 update: I may have to reconsider this recommendation. The hardware specifications sound right, but after getting some hands-on time, the UI exhibits a fair bit of lag.

The Lenovo P780 is a bulky 5-inch Android phone measuring, 143 x 73 x 9.95 mm. Put it beside other 5-inch smartphones and the Lenovo P780 looks massive by comparison. At 176 grams, it is heavy. Not something I would want to lug around every day. But I suspect for many the additional bulk and weight will be worth it. With a beautiful aluminum case and massive 4000 mAh battery, it will win over many a buyer.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

5-inch HD (720 x 1280) display protected by Gorilla Glass

4 GB internal storage expandable via a MicroSD card slot

1 GB RAM

1.2 GHz quad core MediaTek MT6589W processor

PowerVR SGX544 graphics

8 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash

12 MP front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

USB On-the-go

4000 mAh battery

3. HTC 8X (Php13,500) - Fire sale!

Not everyone wants an Android, and a large price drop on HTC's 8X gives you a good reason to get something else. This mid-range Windows powered phone is a good non-Android choice. The HTC 8X has a sharp 4.3-inch (720 x 1280) display, a gigabyte of RAM and a powerful dual core Krait processor.

The Sony Xperia SP is an excellent mid-level Android. It has an HD display, powerful processor, LTE connectivity and long battery life. The biggest weakness in the package though is the camera which produces pictures which are a bit lower in quality than the 5 MP shooter on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus or its lower cost sibling, the Sony Xperia L.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).

4.6-inch HD (720 x 1280) display

8 GB internal storage expandable via a MicroSD card slot

1 GB RAM

1.7 GHz dual core Qualcomm Krait processor

Adreno 320 graphics

8 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash

VGA front camera

LTE/HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

2370 mAh battery

If you don't need LTE, be on the lookout for a Samsung Galaxy S III on sale, which has more internal storage and a much better camera.

Huawei's entry for the phablets wars, the Ascend Mate, is now available, and it is one impressive monster of a phone. The price is surprisingly low at Php16,990.

Quick specs:

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

6.1-inch PIS+ HD display (720 x 1280)

8 GB internal storage, expandable via a microSD card slot

1 GB RAM

1.5 GHz quad core Huawei K3V2 processor

8 MP primary camera, autofocus with flash

2 MP front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

4050 mAh battery

The in-house designed Huawei K3V2 processor is as fast as the Exynos quad on the Samsung Galaxy S III. The 4050 mAh battery also promises good battery life.

Wildcard: The Lumia 625 - Plenty to love and hate

The Nokia Lumia 625 is a Windows Phone 8 device. It has a lot going for, and going against it. Aside from a few aging ZTE phones, this is the cheapest LTE smartphone in the country... if you are on Globe. This is because the Nokia Lumia 625 supports the 800, 1800 and 2600 MHz frequencies. Globe runs on 1800 MHz, while Smart runs on 2100 MHz.

The phone comes with a nice decently large 4.7-inch display. But the display is WVGA (480 x 800). Many will find 199 ppi too pixelated by today's standards.

Still for the right person, it could be an excellent choice. Nokia is still Nokia, and LTE at 12.5K is a great deal.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

There were several new offerings
released last month, which make this month's entry
level buyer's guide fairly interesting. I define entry level phones as
those which cost less than Php10,000. To qualify for the list, the phones have to a current operating
system. At this price point, the only options for a smatphone with a
current operating system would be Android 4.1 or later (Jelly Bean)
and Windows Phone 8. The requirement for a current operating system
is to ensure good app compatibility.

This list includes what I think are the five best options, with an additional phone which might appeal to a certain niche market.

The prices posted are those covered by
an official manufacturer's warranty.

The humble Android powered Cherry
Mobile Flare was probably the most important phone on Cherry Mobile's
lineup. It was the first truly budget phone, retailing for just
Php3,999, that I could really say was good enough for the average
user. There was very little this budget offering could not do. When
the successor to the Flare was announced last month I am sure many
were disappointed that it still only came with 512 MB of RAM.
Luckily, Cherry Mobile released two versions of the Flare.

The Cherry Mobile Flare 2X is probably where smartphone buyers on a budget should be looking at.
With a quad core Qualcomm S200 processor and more importantly 1 GB of RAM. It is a
significant update over the original Flare in terms of overall
performance. More importantly, 1 GB of RAM is what you really need to be able to run Android Jelly Bean well.

Priced at Php4,499, the Cherry Mobile 2X is an entry level smartphone which does not
compromise too much. The screen is large and the phone sufficiently powered to do smartphone stuff. There is a fly in the ointment though. The
Flare 2X still uses the same Adreno 203 graphics processor of the
previous model. Sure, it can still play a fair number of games, but
the Flare 2X is probably best left to those without a serious 3D
gaming habit. The Flare 2X also does not support HSPA+ connectivity,
being limited to the older HSPA standard.

So, all in all, the Flare is a decent smartphone for the average user. For gamers, and those wanting something more special, I would recommend you budget a
fair bit more. The next offering is really much better.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

4-inch WVGA (480 x 800) display

Dual SIM support

4 GB internal storage expandable via a
MicroSD card slot

1 GB of RAM

1.2 GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon
S200 processor

Adreno 203 graphics

8 MP autofocus primary camera with LED
Flash

VGA front camera

HSPA

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

1500 mAh battery (user replaceable)

2. Cherry Mobile Apollo (Php6,999) - A
modern smartphone at a budget price

The Cherry Mobile Apollo is the real
game changer in last month's phone releases. At Php6,999, this Android
powered smartphone really changes one's perception of what a low cost smartphone should have. The Apollo has a
4.5-inch HD display. Yup, that is a 720p (720 x 1280 pixel
resolution) display. That results in 326 pixels per inch. That is as
sharp as an Apple iPhone 5S.

For the additional Php2,500 over the
price of the Flare 2X, it also gives you a lot of additional
capability. The MediaTek quad core processor and PowerVR gravid chip
inside give you about 30% better performance than the Flare 2X. The bulk of that increase comes in terms of graphics performance. The
MediaTek chipset also comes with an HSPA+ radio, which can give you
3X faster data transfer speeds as compared to the Flare. The more
powerful processor on the Apollo will also allow you to do Full HD,
or 1080p, video capture.

All in all, the Apollo gives you much
more than one expects for a smartphone priced at 7K, with no apparent
weakness in terms of the specifications. It is a new product though,
and we do not have much user feedback yet, but so far, it looks really good.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

4.5-inch HD (720 x 1280) IPS display

Dual sim support

4 GB internal storage expandable via a
MicroSD card slot

1 GB RAM

1.2 GHz quad core MediaTek MT6589
processor

PowerVR SGX544 graphics processor

12 MP autofocus primary camera with LED
flash

5 MP front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

1800 mAh battery* (user replaceable)

*While specifications posted say the
battery is a 1800 mAh unit, early buyers report that the battery
supplied was a 2000 mAh unit.

Priced 1K above the Apollo you will
find the MyPhone A919i Duo. This phone was previously priced at
Php9,490. You can now get it for just Php7,990. At retailers like
Automatic Centre, you can even get it at 12-months zero interest (or even 24 months with RCBC or Allied Bank). The A919i Duo has the same general specifications as
the Apollo. The additional 1K does get you a larger 5-inch display.

This phone is a bit on the thick side at 10.7 mm. If you don't plan to avail of the deferred payment scheme and are willing to spend a few hundred more, the Cherry Mobile Omega HD 2.0 (Php8,500) has a display protected by Dragontrail glass and has a nicer overall look to it being just 8.8 mm thick.

Quick specifications:

Dual SIM

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

5-inch IPS HD display (720 x 1280)

4 GB internal storage, expandable via a
microSD card slot

1 GB RAM

1.2 GHz quad core Mediatek processor

PowerVR SGX544MP graphics

8 MP primary camera, autofocus with
flash

2 MP front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

2000 mAh battery (user replaceable)

4. Cherry Mobile Blaze 2.0 (Php8,990) - Entry level phablet

If the MyPhone A919i is not big enough
for you, then you will be happy to find that even in the budget
class, you have the option of buying a phablet with an HD display. The crowning glory of
the Cherry Mobile Blaze 2.0 is its 5.7-inch, 720p display. Retailing
for as low as Php8,990, this phone offers you everything that you get
from the MyPhone A919i, in a larger size.

Quick specifications:

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

5.7-inch IPS HD display (720 x 1280)

Dual SIM

4 GB internal storage, expandable via a
microSD card slot

1 GB RAM

1.2 GHz quad core processor

PowerVR SGX544MP graphics

12 MP BSI primary camera, autofocus
with flash

3 MP BSI front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

2500 mAh battery (user replaceable)

5. Nokia Lumia 520 (Php7,450) - Best branded entry level smartphone

If you don't want a locally branded
phone, Nokia has something nice for you. The Windows Phone 8 powered Nokia
Lumia 520 is the best branded phone you can get in the entry level
class. The Nokia brand is still relatively prestigious. In an odd way too, this phone has gotten better.

The Nokia Lumia 520 used to be my
"Wildcard Entry". A wildcard entry is something that would ordinarily not make it to the list, but has something interesting or unique to make it wortwhile of consideration. The Lumia 520 was something I would recommend to those who don't
like Android. This month, I think it deserves to be part of the top
five list. While the Windows Phone ecosystem has less apps than
Android or the iPhone, it got stronger this month. With Microsoft
buying Nokia's device division, the future of Nokia
hardware and Windows Phone is now backed directly by Microsoft and
its US$60 billion in cash reserves.

Also, in the past the 512 MB of RAM on
this phone meant that it might have limited app compatibility. But it
turns out Windows Phone runs fine on just 512 MB. Games like HALO: Spartan Assault which were previously limited to Windows Phone devices with 1GB of
RAM was updated to run devices with just 512 MB. The Nokia Lumia 520 is the
most popular Windows Phone in the world right now, so you can expect
app developers to make sure their apps run fine on this humble
offering.

Quick specifications:

Windows Phone 8

4-inch WVGA (480 x 800) display

8 GB internal storage expandable via a
MicroSD card slot

512 MB RAM

1 GHz dual core Qualcomm Krait
processor

Adreno 305 graphics

5 MP autofocus primary camera

No front camera

HSPA+

WiFi

Bluetooth

A-GPS

1430 mAh battery (user replaceable)

Wildcard: CloudFone Thrill 520qx

In a sea full of low cost Android
devices with HD displays, the Php9,999 CloudFone Thrill 530qx with
its 5.3-inch with the qHD (540 X 960) will not impress. Also, its
MediaTek MT6589M chipset means it can only capture 720p video. The
Thrill 530qx does have one characteristic which makes it worthy of
consideration as an alternative to the top five phones on the list.
It comes with a 4500 mAh battery, which gives it about twice the
battery life of any other phone entry level phone on the market. Its
only rival is the older CloudFone Thrill 430x.